The upcoming elections in the Republic of Zimbabwe are showing a troubling decline in women’s political representation. Despite comprising the majority of registered voters, women’s presence in politics is dwindling, with only 70 (11%) female candidates for the National Assembly and no female presidential candidates in the 2023 race. This lack of representation is compared to the presence of four female presidential candidates in 2018, two of whom were initially not considered because of issues regarding the timeliness of their nomination papers and payment of nomination fees; the candidates had to go to court to be considered (one was successful). The high nomination fees, which have risen significantly, pose a financial barrier for aspiring female leaders, further marginalizing them. This decline demonstrates the patriarchal nature of this political structure, despite constitutional gender balance provisions. Women’s participation is obstructed by a lack of political efforts to promote gender equality, making them disadvantaged in Zimbabwean politics. This situation highlights the urgent need for efforts to address gender inequality in politics and create a more inclusive environment for women to engage in shaping the nation’s future.
If you’d like to learn more about the current political situation, please check out this article:
For more information on the history of gender inequality in the Republic of Zimbabwe since 1980 (when they gained independence from Great Britain), check out this blog post: https://borgenproject.org/tag/ministry-of-women-affairs-and-community-development/